Patricia A. Brandt, PhD, RN

Research

During the many years that I was a family and child therapist at Seattle Children's and primary care sites, I continually discovered how central self-care and family coaching is to children’s ability to thrive through the experience of life-threatening or chronic conditions. Their transition to assuming self-care is a lifelong endeavor, and one which is encouraged by the youth's partnership with a team of professionals and significant others. As a consequence of clinical connections with children with chronic conditions and their families, my research projects and teaching emphasize developmental approaches, motivational interviewing, family support and self-care. I continue to provide consultation to health care professionals on ways to promote health behavior change in their delivery of care.

Teaching

The courses I particularly enjoy teaching are oriented to health behavior change to prepare nurses and other health care professionals with the knowledge and skills to apply in clinical settings. I have a longstanding commitment to inter and intradisciplinary course teaching.

Practice, Service, Community Involvement

I have been the Chairperson of Family and Child Nursing since 2009 and a professor since the 1990s. I'm especially committed in this leadership role to fostering a work climate that enhances faculty to deliver quality teaching and learning experiences for students that are accessible as well as support faculty for their research endeavors. It is important during this time of economic constraints for our department to use both a business model and best practices that encourage efficiencies and innovations to assure we sustain quality educational and research programs. I believe we need use shared decision-making that involves learning from our stakeholders, students and the community, to continue to prepare the top practitioners, researchers and teachers now and in the future.